Page 64 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

The Quattro’s simple but functional interior with heavily bolstered sport seats.
European sports car manufacturer. By the end of the Coupe’s production cycle, Audi was committed to quattro all-wheel drive as its differentiator and the justification for its premium price. Thus, the front-drive Coupe on the B2 platform was replaced in 1988 by a new Coupe on the AWD B3 platform, continuing the brand legacy.
THE DRIVE
One hundred horsepower may not sound like much today, but in 1980-81 it was a stake in the ground for performance. By coming in with a 2.2-liter five-cylinder engine instead of a more typical 1.6-liter or 1.8-liter four-cylinder, the Audi Coupe outperformed much of its competition. In comparison, the 1980 BMW 320i boasted 101 horsepower at about the same price point, and the Volkswagen Scirocco sport coupe offered 74 horsepower for a few thousand less.
For the $11,875 purchase price of an early Coupe, you got a 0-60 time of about 10.4 seconds, and a well-sorted and proven handling package. Inside, you found a reasonably comfortable and well- appointed vehicle. Use your hand to cover up the four rings on the steering wheel and it looks about like a top-trim Rabbit of the same vintage, and that’s not any kind of knock. VW and Audi did a good job with their comfort and utility for the era.
The Sport Quattro, identifiable by its 13-inch shorter wheelbase and even more aggressive fender flares, was homologated for Group B rallying in 1984; it sold as a production car in limited numbers.
62Wayne CariniAffordable Classics